Crystal Benitez

This lecture transcript introduces the ARCH Innovation Exchange at Manhattan University, a new framework designed for interdisciplinary, innovative, and experiential learning. It aims to prepare students and faculty to address grand challenges in areas such as renewable energy, sustainability, education gaps, and health equity. The speaker also provides a detailed analysis of artificial intelligence in healthcare, exploring its applications, benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations, emphasizing the necessity of AI education for future readiness.

The event featured presentations regarding the 12th Innovation Challenge. The Dean of the Oali School of Business provided an overview of the school's history, various majors and specializations offered (including economics, finance, and business analytics), accreditations (such as AACSB and CFA recognition), faculty research contributions, and student extracurricular activities like competitions. The program director for entrepreneurship detailed the structure of the competition, noting that over ten teams were reduced to the final six, and introduced the panel of expert judges. The presentation for the 'Vive View' application detailed a solution to take the guesswork out of nightlife by providing live streams of bars, addressing pain points for both bar-goers and owners, and outlining its technology stack (TypeScript, React Native, SGS). The team discussed their go-to-market strategy targeting college communities and major East Coast party schools, and detailed how potential investment funds would be allocated to hardware, sales/ambassador programs, and marketing. Judges inquired about channel distribution and compensation models for sales personnel.

The document details a commemorative service held ten years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, focusing on mourning losses and reasserting life, hope, and faith. Key segments included a welcome by a representative of Manhattan College, an invocation/prayer by Brother Robert Berger addressing loss and seeking divine guidance, and remarks from former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani reflecting on the day's events, the response of New Yorkers, and the coordinated government reaction including securing air support. Giuliani shared personal recollections of the immediate aftermath, the realization of a coordinated terrorist attack, the severe conditions witnessed near the World Trade Center site, and the difficult decisions made regarding firefighter safety versus rescue efforts.

The document details the inauguration ceremony for the newly elected student government class officers, representatives, and executive committee for the 2016 to 2017 academic year. The elected officers collectively took an oath to faithfully execute their positions and defend the student government constitution, integrity, and mission of Manhattan College. Following the group oath, the newly elected Student Body President, Dorian Pasar, took an individual oath of office.

The event marked the official dedication of The Patricia and Cornelius J. Higgins '62 Engineering and Science Center. Discussions highlighted the center as a crowning achievement of a recent capital campaign, securing $250 million in fundraising efforts. Speakers emphasized the building's state-of-the-art laboratories for biology, chemistry, physics, and various engineering disciplines, which are vital for modern teaching and research standards. The structure itself reflects engineering principles and achieved a LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. The significance of alumni generosity and the college's commitment to its Catholic Lasallian mission, while advancing STEM education, was underscored.